Device for dispensing a cushioning and packaging element, method for producing the element, and cushioning element and consumable used to produce said element

ABSTRACT

A device ( 1 ) for dispensing a cushioning and packaging element from at least one strip of paper includes at least two guides ( 2 ) around which at least one strip of paper is wound. The device ( 1 ) also includes at least one drive element for driving the at least one strip of paper. The device ( 1 ) further includes at least one creasing device ( 4 ) for creasing the at least one strip of paper. The guides ( 2 ) extend beyond the at least one creasing device ( 4 ), downstream of the at least one creasing device ( 4 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT InternationalApplication No. PCT/FR2017/053739 filed Dec. 20, 2017, which claimspriority from French Application No. 1663234 filed Dec. 22, 2016.

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing cushioning andpackaging elements, its method of implementation, as well as thecushioning and packaging elements as such.

The presence of a cushioning element, protects and wraps the items to bepackaged in a box. These wedges make it possible to fill the voids towedge the objects inside a box and thus to absorb the shocks inherent tothe transports and the possible falls.

Many types of cushioning solutions are present in the field ofpackaging. The general trend is to eliminate non-recyclable materials,and move towards recycled paper packaging.

The paper cushioning elements are creased in a coarse manner, resultingin acceptable but unsatisfactory mechanical properties.

The present invention thus provides a dispensing device producingcushioning and packaging elements, to overcome the aforementioneddrawbacks.

Thus, the dispensing device according to the invention of cushioningelement and packaging from at least one strip of paper, comprises atleast two guiding means around which at least one strip of paper iswound, at least one drive means and at least one means for creasing atleast one strip of paper, while the guide means extend beyond, i.e.downstream, of at least one creasing means.

It should be added that the guide means are longitudinal profiles.

According to one embodiment, the dispensing device comprises a shapingmeans upstream of the guiding means, which allows the positioning of atleast one strip of paper around said at least two guide means.

According to the previous embodiment, the shaping means is a closed pathwhose ends overlap

According to another embodiment, the shaping means is in a closed pathwhose ends are located laterally on the same side, namely that the pathis in a form of C.

According to the previous embodiments, the guide means are included inthe interior space delimited by the path.

According to an additional feature, the dispensing device comprisesmeans for inserting the paper web upstream of the shaping means.

According to the preceding feature, the insertion means is provided by aprofile directed towards the outside, in the extension of the path.

According to one embodiment, the dispensing device comprises at leastone positioning means for forcing at least a portion of at least onestrip of paper between two guiding means.

According to the previous embodiment, the lower end of the positioningmeans is located or substantially located in correspondence of the lowerends of the guide means.

According to preferred embodiments, at least one drive means is locatedbetween two guide means, while at least one creasing means is locatedbetween two guiding means.

According to a complementary feature, the guide means comprise two partsof two different sections, the smallest section being located downstreamof the larger section.

According to one embodiment, a drive means comprises a rear axle and afront axle downstream of the rear axle, both upstream of the creasingmeans.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a crimped paperwedging and packaging element comprising the steps of installing atleast one paper web at the periphery of at least two guiding means, ofpositioning a portion of the paper web between the guiding means, movingthe paper web along the guide means, and creasing the paper

The present invention also relates to a cushioning and packaging elementcomprising at least one sheet of crumpled paper, forming at least twolongitudinal ducts delimiting a connection zone, while the longitudinalducts each comprise a continuous inner hollow body, corresponding to alongitudinal inner section defined by the inner ends of the foldslocated at the periphery of the longitudinal ducts.

It should be added that a hollow body has a constant or substantiallyconstant section on all or substantially all of its longitudinalprofile.

It should be noted that a hollow body is presented by a longitudinalsection having a cross section selected from a circular, rectangular,square, oblong, triangular or hexagonal.

It should be noted that the connection zone consists only of at leasttwo sheets of crumpled sheet at least longitudinally.

According to an additional characteristic, a consumable, intended forthe production of a cushioning and packaging element according to theinvention, is formed of a strip of paper folded in three sections, inwhich its lateral ends overlap, characterized in that the paper webcomprises transverse perforation lines regularly distributed along itslength.

According to the preceding feature the paper web is formed of aplurality of thicknesses.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe description which follows with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which are given by way of non-limiting examples.

FIGS. 1 to 9 are views of a timing element and packaging deviceaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along A-A.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along B-B of Figure Z

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along C-C of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an insertion means located in theextension of a shaping means.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are perspective views illustrating the insertion of a paperweb into the insertion means to the shaping means.

FIG. 10a is a perspective view of a cushioning element and packagingaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10b is a perspective view of a cushioning element and packagingaccording to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a consumable.

This invention relates first of all to a dispensing device (1) forcushioning and packaging element (9) from at least one paper web (10).

The dispensing device (1) according to the invention comprises at leasttwo guiding means (2) each having at least one independent free end,around at least one of which is wrapped at least one strip of paper(10), while it comprises a driving means (3) of at least one paper web(10), and at least one creasing means (4) of at least one paper web (10)downstream of the medium drive (3).

According to one characteristic, the guide means (2) have longitudinalprofiles, all along which is wound at least one paper web (10).

According to the preceding characteristic, the guiding means (2) extendthroughout the shaping of the cushioning and packaging elements (9)produced, that is to say that the guide means (2) extend from the outletof the shaping means (5) to the wrinkling means (4), as explained inmore detail in the following description.

The longitudinal profiles of the guiding means (2) may have anysectional shape, such as circular, rectangular, square, oblong, or eventriangular or hexagonal, preferably circular as illustrated inparticular in FIG. 1.

According to the preceding characteristic, the guide means (2) areoriented in the same direction in parallel manner.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the guiding means (2) compriseat least two parts (2 a, 2 b) having decreasing sections, namely a firstportion (2 a) upstream of a second portion (2 b) having a smallersection than the first.

It should be noted that two guide means (2) define a central space inwhich is located at least one positioning means (7) of at least onestrip of paper (10).

It should be noted that a positioning means (7) conforms to at least onepaper web (10) in a central space, between two guide means (2).

More precisely, a positioning means (7) conforms to all the facescorresponding to this positioning means (7), that is at least two sidesof at least one strip of paper (10) facing each other, preferablyconforming the sections against each other.

According to one embodiment, at least one positioning means (7) conformsto at least one paper web (10) in the direction of a wrinkling means(4).

According to the illustrated embodiment, a positioning means (7)conforms to at least one paper web (10) towards a driving means (3) andthen a creasing means (4), both located in a central space between twoguide means (2), that is, a positioning means (7), a driving means (3)and a creasing means (4) are aligned along a central space.

According to the previous embodiment, the drive means (3) is locatedbetween the first portions (2 a) of the guide means (2), while thecreasing means (4) is arranged between the second portions (2 b) of theguide means (2).

In other words, at least one positioning means (7) conforms at least onepaper strip (10) upstream of the creasing means (4), preferably upstreamof the driving means (3), advantageously such that at least one paperweb (10) is wound substantially around the periphery of each of theguide means (2).

The positioning of the creasing means (4) at the second portions (2 b)of the guiding means (2) makes it possible to obtain wrinkled areashaving greater heights than if the wrinkling operation were performed ona longitudinal section having a constant section. These wrinkled areashave better compressive strength than if they were only partiallywrinkled at the periphery of the ducts.

It should be noted that the creasing means (4) is advantageously a meanswhich slows down or drives at least one paper web (10) at a speed lowerthan that of the drive means (3).

According to the illustrated embodiment a creasing means (4) is in theform of the association of two notched wheels whose respective notchesof each of the wheels are offset, so that the wheels do not come intocontact.

According to the previous embodiment, the notched wheels aremechanically connected and are driven by a single motor, which alsoprevents the wheels from coming into contact and damaging the device.

It should also be noted that the greater the difference in speed betweena driving means (3) and a wrinkling means (4), the more the folds areconcentrated. More pleats improve resistance to transverse compression.

According to the embodiment illustrated, a driving means (3) comprises afront axle (3 b) and a rear axle (3 a) each comprising a driving wheelprovided with a pair of rolling bearings.

According to one characteristic, a drive wheel is brought into contactwith the bearings associated with it by a vertical force exerted bysprings.

According to the preceding characteristic, the panels of at least onestrip of paper (10), namely at least two panels, are driven by thestressing between the drive wheels and the bearings, and the setting inmotion of the front (3 b) and rear (3 a) trains.

The front axle (3 b) is coupled to a motor, while the rear axle iscoupled to the same motor via a clutch and/or braking means, such as amagnetic brake.

It should be noted that the front axle (3 b) is located downstream ofthe rear axle (3 a).

This operating mode of the driving means (3) makes it possible, when therear axle is disengaged or braked, (3 a) to cut a cushioning andpackaging element (9) according to a length determined by the breakingof at least one strip of paper (10) along the precut zones.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing device (1) alsocomprises at least three detection cells, namely a first cell upstreamof the rear axle (3 a), a second cell between the two trains (3 a, 3 b),and a third cell between the front axle (3 b) and the crumpling means(4). The presence of these detection cells makes it possible todetermine the position of at least one strip of paper (10), to animatethe motors, clutches and brakes according to the requests.

According to a particular embodiment, not shown, a driving means (3) andat least one creasing means (4) are respectively represented by a rearaxle (3 a) and a front axle (3 b), wherein the nose gear (3 b) is movedat a lower speed than the rear axle (3 a).

According to one characteristic, the dispensing device (1) comprises ashaping means (5) of at least one paper web (10) around the outerperiphery of at least two guiding means (2), upstream of these latter.

This shaping means (5) has an inlet and an outlet allowing at least onepaper web (10) to wind around the guiding means (2).

According to the illustrated embodiment, the shaping means (5) comprisesa passage of at least one paper web (10), which is provided by a closedpath (6) which allows the winding of at least one web of paper (10) onitself, that is that the ends of a border of the path (6) advantageouslyoverlap in offset manner.

According to another embodiment, the shaping means (5) is provided by aclosed path (6) whose ends are located laterally on the same side,namely that the path (6) is in a crushed C shape.

It should be noted that the upstream ends of the guide means (2) arefixed or molded to the conformation means (5).

More precisely, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the upstream ends of theguiding means (2) are located inside the space arranged by the path (6)of the shaping means (5) of at least a strip of paper (10).

According to an additional characteristic, an insertion means (8) isadded upstream of the shaping means (5), in order to facilitate thepositioning of at least one paper web (10) in the latter, morespecifically to facilitate the insertion of at least one paper web (10)into the path (6) of the shaping means (5), which in turn facilitatesthe positioning of at least one paper web (10) around the guide means(2).

According to one embodiment, in particular illustrated in FIG. 6, theinsertion means (8) is in the form of a ramp, which is an outwardextension of the path (6) of the shaping means (5).

In other words, the insertion means (8) is an outwardly directedprofile, in the extension of the path (6).

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, a side panel of the paper strip (10) isinserted opposite and abutting against the inner end of the path (6),more specifically is presented against the profile portion of theinsertion means (8) arranged in the extension of the inner end of thepath (6), while the other side panel of the paper web is engaged againstthe part of the profile of the insertion means (8) arranged in theextension of the outer end of the path (6), so as to easily insert thepaper web in the conformation means (5).

A cushioning and packaging element (9) according to the invention isadvantageously intended to be wound around at least a part of an articleto be protected, which is previously or subsequently placed in a box. Itis understood that a cushioning and packaging element (9) can also bearranged at the bottom and/or above the item (s) to be protected.

It should be noted that the cushioning element and packaging (9)according to the invention is made of crumpled paper and is provided byat least one connecting zone (12) defined by two longitudinal ducts(11).

It should be noted that the longitudinal ducts (11) have a generalregular profile, the shape of which depends on that of the guide means(2) used.

It is understood that the longitudinal ducts (11) are creased at theirperipheries, however their general profiles correspond to those of theguide means (2).

The fact that the longitudinal ducts (11) maintain a general regularprofile, while being crumpled at their peripheries, makes it possible toobtain improved mechanical properties, in terms of resistance, inparticular to radial compression, namely a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction of the cushioning element and packagingaccording to the invention.

It is understood by general regular profile a profile having a generallycylindrical, oblong, cuboid, or even triangular section, while beingcrumpled at its periphery.

According to a complementary characteristic, as illustrated in FIGS. 10aand 10b , the longitudinal ducts (11) comprise a continuous hollow body(15) corresponding to the profiles of the second parts (2 b) of theguide means (2), namely corresponding to an inner section delimited bythe inner ends of the folds located at the periphery of the longitudinalducts (11).

According to the preceding characteristic, a hollow body (15), namely aninternal profile, a hollow body has a constant or substantially constantsection on all or substantially all of its longitudinal section, equalto or substantially equal to that of a second portion (2 b) of a guidemeans (2).

It should be noted that the profile of a hollow body (15) is included inthat of the longitudinal duct (11) in which it is housed.

It should also be noted that a hollow body (15) is formed by a profilehaving a cross section of a shape chosen from circular, rectangular,square, oblong, triangular or hexagonal.

The presence of a hollow body (15) provides not only, for the sameamount of paper, a larger volume to the resulting structure, but alsoprovides reinforcement to the structure by means of a stressdistribution vault along its periphery.

In order to obtain its definitive shape, a cushioning and packagingelement (9) according to the invention advantageously does not includefastening means such as by perforation, gluing or by the use of staple,other than means for binding by creasing, along at least one connectingzone (12), at least one sheet of paper.

It should be noted that a cushioning and packaging element (9) consistsof at least one sheet of paper, preferably consisting of a sheet ofpaper, wound on itself and creased at least longitudinally at least at aconnecting zone (12).

It should be noted that a connecting zone (12) is only creased evenlyalong its longitudinal profile.

According to one characteristic, a connection zone (12) is more creasedthan the longitudinal ducts (11) which delimit it

According to the preceding characteristic, the particular structure of acushioning element according to the invention provides an improvedresistance to radial crushing.

A connecting zone (12) constitutes a means for fixing at least twosections of a sheet, providing the sole means of maintaining the shapeof at least one sheet of paper resulting in a cushioning and packagingelement (9).

It should be noted It should be noted that a cushioning and wrappingelement (9) is obtained from at least one wrapped paper web (10) inwhich at least two sections, preferably at least three sections of thestrip, overlap and are creased in at least one longitudinal orsubstantially longitudinal connecting zone (12), even rectilinear orsubstantially rectilinear, while the crumpled paper web (10) is then cutinto a sheet of crumpled paper at the desired length, preferably cutalong transverse perforation lines.

Thus, according to one feature, a paper web (10) includes pre-cut areas,provided by transversally arranged perforation lines, which are evenlydistributed along the length of the paper web (10).

In other words, a cushioning element (9) is present by at least onesheet of paper rolled up on itself and creased along at least oneconnecting zone (12) advantageously longitudinal or substantiallylongitudinal, or rectilinear or substantially rectilinear, wherein allsections of sheet wound in correspondence of at least one bonding zone(12) are creased within said bonding zone (12) so as to form on eachside of at least one zone link (12), longitudinal ducts (11) whosegeneral profiles are oriented in the general profile of the connectingzone (12).

It should also be noted that at least one connecting zone (12) isparallel or substantially parallel to the lateral ends of the cushioningand packaging element (9).

It is understood that since the paper is wrinkled, it is the generalprofile of a connection zone (12) that is parallel or substantiallyparallel to the lateral ends of the cushioning and packaging element(9).

It should also be noted that the longitudinal ducts (11) delimiting aconnecting zone (12) are also parallel or substantially parallel to thelatter and to the lateral ends of the cushioning and packaging element(9).

It is also understood that since the paper is wrinkled, it is thegeneral profiles of the longitudinal ducts (11) that are parallel orsubstantially parallel to the general profile of the connection zone(12) and at the lateral ends of the cushioning and packaging element(9).

According to one characteristic, a sheet of wrinkled paper wound onitself comprises at least one connecting zone (12) of at least twopanels, or even three sheets of sheet.

According to embodiments, a cushioning and packaging element (9) formedof at least two sheets of paper is obtained from the superposition of atleast two paper strips (10) pre-folded or not.

By way of example, a cushioning and packaging element (9) may have two,three, four or five longitudinal ducts (11) adjacent to each other,oriented in the same direction, defined respectively by one, two, threeor four parallel or substantially parallel connection zones (12), atleast parallel (s) to the lateral ends of the cushioning element andpackaging (9) according to the invention.

According to one characteristic, the longitudinal ends of thelongitudinal ducts (11), namely the ends at which the paper strip (10)is cut, are open towards the outside.

According to an embodiment, not shown, the longitudinal ends of acushioning and packaging element (9) are not wrinkled, at least notsubstantially wrinkled and delimit a wrinkled central zone in which theinternal volume is greater than the longitudinal ends.

According to the illustrated embodiment, a cushioning and packagingelement (9) according to the invention is obtained from at least oneconsumable which is in the form of a paper strip (10) pre-folded inthree sections.

According to the previous embodiment, a cushioning and packaging element(9) formed of at least one sheet of wrinkled paper is obtained from atleast one paper web (10) pre-folded by two longitudinal fold lines (13)delimiting three sections of sheet with side panels overlapping at leastpartially

It should be noted that a strip of paper (10) is pre-folded so that itslateral ends are folded over the upper face of its central portion, sothat they overlap.

In other words, the pre-folded paper web (10) is delimited into threesections, namely a central panel and two lateral panels, the outer endsof the side panels being adjacent, so that a first side panel is foldedon the central panel, while the second side panel is folded on the firstside panel.

According to one characteristic, the pre-folded paper web (10) comprisespre-cutting areas (14) evenly distributed along its length.

According to the previous characteristic, the pre-cutting areas (14)extend from one edge to the other of the pre-folded paper web (10),namely from each of the outer ends of the side panels.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for dispensing a cushioning andpackaging element from at least one paper web comprising: at least twoguiding means around which the at least one paper web is wound, at leastone drive means of the at least one paper web, and at least onewrinkling means of the at least one paper web, wherein the at least twoguiding means extend downstream of the at least one wrinkling means, andwherein the at least two guiding means are longitudinal profiles, andwherein the dispensing device further comprises a shaping means of theat least one paper web, said shaping means is located upstream of the atleast two guiding means, which allows positioning of the at least onepaper web around said at least two guiding means, the shaping meanscomprises a closed path of the at least one paper web, the closed pathhas an inlet and an outlet allowing the at least one paper web to windaround the said at least two guiding means, and wherein each upstreamend of the at least two guiding means is fixed or molded to the shapingmeans, the upstream ends of the at least two guiding means are locatedinside a space arranged by the closed path.
 2. The dispensing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the closed path has ends which overlap,which allows the winding of the at least one paper web.
 3. Thedispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the shaping means isprovided by a closed path in the form of a crushed C shape.
 4. Thedispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the insertion means isprovided by a profile directed outwards, in an extension of the path. 5.The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising aninsertion means of the paper web upstream of the shaping means.
 6. Thedispensing device according to claim 5, wherein a lower end of thepositioning means is located or substantially located in alignment withlower ends of the guide means.
 7. The dispensing device according toclaim 1, further comprising at least one positioning means whichconstrains at least a portion of the at least one paper web between theat least two guide means.
 8. The dispensing device according to claim 1,wherein the at least one drive means is located between the at least twoguide means.
 9. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein theat least one wrinkling means is located between two guide means.
 10. Thedispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two guidesmeans comprise two parts of two different sections, namely a smallersection and a larger section, the smaller section being locateddownstream of the larger section.
 11. The dispensing device according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one drive means comprises a rear axle anda front axle downstream of the rear axle, the rear axle and the frontaxle are both located upstream of a creasing means.